The rise of the 21-year-old Latvian goalie Kristers Gudlevskis as well as the Lightning calling on Cedrick Desjardins while Anders Lindback and Ben Bishop dealt with injuries left their 2006 first-round pick Riku Helenius out in the cold.

Now it appears the team is ready to send Helenius packing.

Lindsay Kramer of Syracuse.com reports the Lightning put Helenius on unconditional waivers and will release him if/when he passes unclaimed at noon on Sunday. Lightning assistant general manager Julien Brisebois says they’re severing ties with Helenius for breach of contract.

Helenius found himself at the short end of the stick in the Lightning organization after the team acquired Bishop and Lindback and now with Desjardins and Gudlevskis getting looks over him, time was running out for Helenius to prove himself. He hasn’t played for Syracuse since Nov. 27.

Facing these kinds of road blocks can be frustrating and if the report is true, refusing to go down to the ECHL won’t do him any favors of landing elsewhere anytime soon.

PHT’s Morning Skate takes a look around the world of hockey to see what’s happening and what we’ll be talking about around the NHL world and beyond.

Marian Hossa is happy to be medically cleared following his concussion during the 2012 playoffs. He’s hoping the lockout will end soon, but he’s willing to explore his “other options” if the season is lost. (CSN Chicago)

Pierre LeBrun thinks both sides deserve to share in the blame for the fact that the NHL still doesn’t have a new CBA. (ESPN)

Former New York Rangers netminder Mike Richter has been impressed by what he’s seen so far at the Team USA selection camp for the 2013 World Junior Championship. (NHL.com)

Dallas Stars prospect Alex Guptill was recently scratched for a couple games by the University of Michigan for bad practice habits and attitude issues. He was the 2011-12 CCHA Rookie of the Year. (AnnArbor.com)

PHT’s Morning Skate takes a look around the world of hockey to see what’s happening and what we’ll be talking about around the NHL world and beyond.

Brodie Brazil examines the current labor negotiations from a number of different angles. Among other things, he thinks that the Winter Classic might offer the NHL with an ideal date to start the season in the event of a lockout. That might be bad news for fans because it might subconsciously “take pressure off negotiations.” (CSN Bay Area)

Well, if a lockout is coming, here’s tongue-in-cheek list of ways to survive it. Anyone interested in an AHL fantasy league? (Ottawa Citizen)

Lightning prospect Jaroslav Janus has agreed to a tryout contract with the KHL’s HC Slovan. He’s expected to play in Europe next season to prevent a potential AHL logjam between Janus, Dustin Tokarski, and Riku Helenius. (Tampa Bay Times)

While Janus heads to Europe, Blue Jackets prospect Oscar Dansk will travel from Sweden to North America after coming to terms with the OHL Erie Otters. (NHL.com)

Sports Illustrated graded the Eastern Conference teams based on their summer moves. Even after the New York Rangers added Rick Nash, they still awarded higher scores to the Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals. (Sports Illustrated)

PHT’s Morning Skate takes a look around the world of hockey to see what’s happening and what we’ll be talking about around the NHL world and beyond.

The Tampa Bay Lightning created a bit of a logjam in the minors when they added goaltenders Riku Helenius and Anders Lindback over the summer. With that in mind, netminding prospect Jaroslav Janus will spend the 2012-13 campaign in Europe. (Lightning.nhl.com)

Here’s a detailed report on the sixth overall pick from the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Ducks prospect Hampus Lindholm. (The Orange County Register)

Four Washington Capitals’ prospects will be competing for spots on Team USA’s roster for the 2013 World Junior Championships. (CSN Washington)

Hal Gill underwent off-season surgery for a fractured his tibia, but he has “no issues with it.” Gill sees himself as someone who can help out Ryan Ellis this season. (The Tennessean)

In a move that will surprise no one, the Dallas Morning News has picked Mike Modano as the all-time best Stars player. (Dallas Morning News)

According to Larry Brooks, Shane Doan has narrowed his choices down to the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh, and Vancouver, but it remains to be seen if the Rangers are willing to give him a four-year deal. It’s worth adding that Doan also recently spoke of his desire to remain in Phoenix, although that doesn’t necessarily mean that he’ll end up re-signing with the Coyotes. (New York Post)